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J.B. Holmes wins Genesis Open by one

by
Mo Yoshimoto

February 18, 2019, 10:46 am ET

Genesis Open

Pacific Palisades, California

Playing out of the final threesome, first-round leader and World No. 100 J.B. Holmes erased a four-shot deficit with 1-under-par 34-36=70 in Sunday’s wind-swept final round at Riviera Country Club for a 72-hole tally of 14-under 270, good for a one-shot victory over runner-up, 54-hole leader and fellow Kentuckian Justin Thomas, who labored to a 75.

The 37-year-old, a pre-tourney 90/1 outright, bags his fifth TOUR title in 301 events (300 pro), first since the 2015 Shell Houston Open 3years, 10months and 91starts ago, where he came from six back with 8-under 64 and won in extra time.

Of his five wins, this was his second come-from-behind victory, second straight.

After opening with week-tying-low 63, 69-68, the Florida resident hit seven (of 14) fairways and 13 greens in regulation, gaining 0.940 strokes tee-to-green. He squared two bogeys at holes 7 and 11 (3-putt from 3'4"), slightly outpaced by three circles at 1, 3 (12'10") and 10. Holmes recorded 1.923 putts per GIR and 0.756 SG: Putting (30 total putts), ending the week with one eagle and 19 birdies against seven bogeys.

Due to weather delays and suspensions in play, all 76 players had to complete their third and fourth rounds on Sunday, with Holmes having to play 34 holes, which he did in 3-under.

This was his 13th Genesis, eighth top 25 and fifthtop10, first since T8 in 2012.

Holmes’ previous four top 10s came in five-year stretch between 2008 and 2012, where notably, he recorded five consecutive top-12 finishes. His only missed cut was in 2013, and his previous-best of T3 in 2010 was the only other time he’d connected four red numbers at Riviera CC.

The University of Kentucky product improves to 6-for-8 on the season with four top 25s and two top 10s, checking in off a missedcut by 11 at last week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on 9-over 224 (76-71-77).

With a Strength of Field rating of 542 (up 42 from last year), Holmes banks 64.00 world-ranking points and is back inside the Top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

OWGR: 42nd(up 58)

FedExCup: 9th (up 52)

Note: Holmes earns spot into this coming week’s WGC-Mexico Championship two separate ways: Top 50 in OWGR and Top 10 in FEC. He posted a T12 (69-68-69-71) on last visit in 2017, the inaugural in Mexico City.

NOT-SO-FUN FACT: Thomas’ closing 75 was his worst score (by 3 shots) when leading/co-leading after 54 holes. He had converted his last three and six of his last seven opportunities. R4 average before this week: 68.50.

NOT-SO-FUN FACT: Thomas was the fifth player this season to hold a 4-shot lead thru 54 holes and the first to lose.

Justin Thomas: The 25-year-old’s runner-up is his third in 123 events, first since a P2 at last year’s WGC-Mexico.

Overall, it’s his 18th top-3 finish:

Wins: 9

2nd: 3

3rd: 6

Genesis Form: 2-9-39-54-41

Season Form: 2-3-16-3-36-5

OWGR: 4th (unchanged)

FEC: 6th (up 8)

Field Scoring Average:

This was the 93rd playing of the Genesis and 54th edition at Riviera CC (20th consecutive).

Due to heavy rain on Thursday, which resulted in a 7-hour delay and R1 scores being reset for 30 players (10 groups), rounds 1, 2 and 3 were all contested over two-dayperiods.

Par 71 (35-36)

7,322 yards

Cumulative scoring averages:

R1: 70.51 (contested over two days; preferred lies)

R2: 71.55 (contested over two days)

R3: 70.83 (contested over two days)

R4: 72.22

Total: 71.20

Holmes: 63-69-68-70

SG: Total: 15.109

Draw:

A total of 76 pros from a field of 143 pros and 1 amateur made the 36-hole cut of even-par 142: